Hello,
I started Docetaxel/ Carboplatin plus Phesgo on Thursday afternoon & experienced horrendous gut cramping last night - at first constipated now some loose stools.
Does this pass? Any advice for calming things down. I’ve googled the go-to bland food lists.
Thanks so much. I’m already dreading the 2nd infusion in 3 weeks! Although I know I’m lucky it’s 3 weeks away.
Hi Shari
My chemo was of a similar type to yours- paclitaxel/carboplatin but I did not have the phesgo.
I also had some tough tummy effects- normally would start around day 3 and settle by the end of the first week post chemo. The actual chemo and some of the anti nausea medication- in particular ondansetron can be constipating. Like you- it was constipation/ cramping and then became diarrhoea.
Don't forget that you have your hospital 24 hour number and that they can help with things like side effects. It is worth calling them as they can often give you medication and advice.
One thing that helped me was to go on a tapering dose of steroids- it may be worth asking if this would help you- so for the first cycle I had high doses at home on days 1 and 2 post chemo and then they stopped completely. My consultant said it was the sudden drop that can cause issues for some people. On the 2nd and subsequent cycles I had the same doses on day 1 and 2 and then on day 3 I had half the amount and then day 4 that halved again. it made a big difference.
Ask about the antinausea medication as I found the domperidone was better tolerated tummy wise.
With the constipation they gave me stool softeners and buscopan helped with the cramping. Following a light diet helped and splitting up meals into smaller portions- eating little and often. For the diarrhoea they can give loperamide. It is worth talking to your doctor to see if any of these steps might help you.
I found moving around helped a bit with the cramping and also warm baths/hot water bottles.
All these things made the tummy effects from my 2nd chemo onwards much more tolerable. They can also actually adjust the chemo doses if necessary.
Good Luck with your next cycle.
Jane
Call the hospital tomorrow and also make a note of how you are feeling each day. It will help when you have your review with each cycle. My side effects followed the same pattern with each cycle, which I understand is quite common.
For me the worst of the tummy effects were within the first week. Same with the flu like aches.
I also found I could feel a bit better, do something like have a walk and then it would flare up again.
With any symptoms like flu like aches etc it is important to mention them as any signs of potential infection- you need to call them. I was told to take my temp each day and call with any changes.
I found as well, if my tummy felt better I would go back to eating normally and this could then affect my tummy as it hadn't completely recovered. if you think like when you have a tummy bug- they say to ease back into food that you could easily digest - I found that similar with chemo.
I also found that noting how I was each day really helped with reviews as it is easy to forget- my consultant then could preempt side effects and adjust meds before the nausea etc took hold.
When you call the hospital they will make notes that your consultant will also be able to review.
If your experience is similar to mine by the second week I felt a lot better, a bit washed out/shaky. But I could do things. By the third week I felt generally ok.
That sounds a good plan.
Yes, chemo is really tough but I did find the first one was the worst. I hope that you start to feel a lot better in the next few days
I am sorry to hear you have had a bad night. Its fine to reach out whenever you need us.
I also lost my appetite and became anxious around food at times. I was told that it didn't matter what I ate as long as I continued to eat. I also used Complan drinks and made smoothies using tinned peaches/pears. I found I could tolerate tinned fruit better. I used to split my meals down into smaller portions. I also bought some ready meals in smaller portions and if I fancied one, I would have it- what ever time of day it was. I worked out a list of a few safer foods- that did not cause tummy trouble and felt more comfortable eating those.
I had plain white toast, crumpets, rice crispies. Very bland at times. I found that I went off hot drinks- tea etc but found lemon tasting drinks- flat lemonade etc ok. I also ate those little ginger biscuits that come out around Christmas. I also had lemon sweets and barley sugars. Plain biscuits and crackers were ok. So think about snacking perhaps- rather than big meals.
I took my loperamide and anti nausea meds around 30 minutes before meal times- on advice of nurse.
Some anti nausea medication can make nausea worse and some can be more constipating so its worth calling the hospital if it continues to make sure you are on one that is suitable. With the loperamide- if it is not enough on its own- they can give you extra medication that will help. in the end I had 4 different types during my chemo and radiotherapy.
I hope that you are feeling better soon.
If your mouth becomes sore they can give you a mouth wash that will help. I didn't find much to help with the metallic/off taste in mouth apart from lemon sweets. My taste did improve again but only once chemo ended.
Keep an eye on the sore throat and if in any doubt about infection- call the hospital. Could be a bit of reflux- I found that could make my throat a bit sore and taste was off.
